75 of Merchants Prioritize Better Returns

In the fast-moving world of delivery operations and management, 75 of merchants prioritize better returns has emerged as a defining factor for operational success. Operations teams across industries are rethinking how they approach this challenge, driven by rising costs, evolving customer expectations, and the growing availability of purpose-built technology.

As delivery operations and management becomes more complex, the gap between businesses that leverage technology and those relying on manual processes continues to widen. Businesses looking to address this challenge are increasingly turning to delivery management software to streamline operations and reduce costs.

In this article, we break down the key aspects of 75 of merchants prioritize better returns, explore what the latest industry data reveals, and provide actionable strategies that delivery managers can implement immediately. Whether you are scaling an existing operation or building from the ground up, the insights here are designed to guide practical decision-making in 2026 and beyond.

The Current Landscape

Understanding 75 of merchants prioritize better returns starts with recognizing the interconnected nature of modern delivery operations and management. Every decision -- from scheduling to routing to communication -- impacts the end result. Businesses that take a holistic view of their operations tend to achieve better outcomes than those optimizing in isolation.

McKinsey reports that digitized delivery management reduces failed deliveries by 30-40%, significantly lowering redelivery costs.

At the operational level, this translates to fewer manual scheduling incidents, more consistent service quality, and a clearer picture of where resources are being used most effectively. The data collected through these systems also feeds into continuous improvement cycles that compound over time.

For operations teams and their teams, this translates into a clear imperative: the businesses that invest in understanding and optimizing 75 of merchants prioritize better returns today will be better equipped to handle the operational pressures that lie ahead. The cost of maintaining the status quo, in terms of both direct expenses and missed opportunities, increases with each passing quarter.

Key Factors Driving Change

The data tells a clear story: organizations that invest in delivery operations and management capabilities outperform their peers across every major metric. From customer satisfaction score to customer satisfaction, the correlation between operational maturity and business performance is well documented.

• Visibility -- Real-time insight into every aspect of your delivery operations and management operations eliminates blind spots and enables faster, more informed decision-making.
• Automation -- Automating routine tasks like automated scheduling frees your team to focus on exceptions and high-value activities that require human judgment.
• Scalability -- Purpose-built delivery operations and management tools allow you to handle increased volume without proportionally increasing headcount or complexity.
• Customer experience -- Features like real-time tracking and proactive communication directly improve satisfaction scores and reduce inbound support queries.
• Data-driven improvement -- Every operation generates data that can be used to identify patterns, predict issues, and continuously optimize performance against key metrics like first-attempt delivery rate.

Digging deeper into the mechanics, the most successful implementations share several common characteristics. They start with clean, reliable data. They involve frontline teams in the design process. They measure what matters and iterate based on real performance, not assumptions. And they use technology as an enabler rather than a replacement for good operational thinking.

A 2025 PwC survey found that 87% of consumers expect real-time delivery updates, up from 68% in 2022.

For a deeper look at related strategies, see our guide on the psychology of proof of delivery why customers feel more secure, which covers complementary approaches to the concepts discussed here.

Practical Approaches and Solutions

Scaling delivery operations and management operations without sacrificing quality is another common challenge. What works for 50 deliveries per day may break down at 500. The systems, processes, and tools need to scale with the business, which requires deliberate planning and the right technical foundation.

Research from Capgemini shows that 55% of consumers will switch retailers after a single poor delivery experience.

Tools like real-time tracking complement these strategies by providing the operational visibility and control needed to execute consistently at scale.

Modern delivery operations and management platforms address these challenges by providing a unified view of operations, automating routine decisions, and surfacing the insights that matter most. Rather than adding complexity, well-implemented technology simplifies day-to-day operations while improving consistency and accountability.

It is worth noting that the challenges associated with 75 of merchants prioritize better returns are not static. As customer expectations continue to rise and competitive pressures intensify, the bar for what constitutes adequate performance keeps moving upward. Organizations that treat operational improvement as an ongoing discipline, rather than a one-time project, are the ones that sustain their gains over time.

Related reading: Debate on E Bikes Heating Up Including its Batteries explores how these principles apply across different areas of logistics operations.

Implementation Strategies

Putting these concepts into practice requires a structured approach. The following steps have proven effective for organizations at various stages of delivery operations and management maturity, from those just starting their digital transformation to those refining already-capable operations.

1. Audit your current operations -- Map out your existing delivery operations and management workflows, identify pain points, and establish baseline metrics for first-attempt delivery rate and customer satisfaction score. This assessment provides the foundation for targeted improvement.
2. Define clear objectives -- Set specific, measurable goals for what you want to achieve. Whether it is reducing missed delivery windows by 30% or improving deliveries per day by 20%, clear targets keep the initiative focused and accountable.
3. Select the right technology -- Evaluate delivery operations and management platforms based on your specific requirements, integration needs, and growth trajectory. Prioritize solutions that offer both immediate value and long-term scalability.
4. Execute a phased rollout -- Start with a pilot group or region to validate the approach, refine processes, and build internal champions before scaling across the full operation.
5. Measure, learn, and iterate -- Establish regular review cycles to track performance against your objectives. Use the data to identify what is working, address what is not, and continuously raise the bar.

Real-world results confirm this approach. Organizations that follow structured implementation frameworks typically see meaningful improvements in on-time percentage within the first 90 days, with compounding benefits over the following quarters as processes mature and data quality improves.

You may also find value in our article on managing your own deliveries, which provides additional context for implementing these strategies effectively.

Building for Scale

Building for scale means thinking about more than just volume. It means ensuring that quality, consistency, and customer experience are maintained or improved as the operation grows. The organizations that succeed at this are typically those that standardize their core processes early, invest in training, and use data to drive continuous refinement of their approach to 75 of merchants prioritize better returns.

The most effective measurement frameworks balance leading and lagging indicators. Leading indicators, such as cost per delivery trends and process compliance rates, help predict future performance. Lagging indicators, like first-attempt delivery rate and overall cost efficiency, confirm whether the strategy is working. Together, they provide a complete picture that supports both tactical adjustments and strategic planning.

For additional perspectives, our article on track your medical and pharmacy delivery runs with locate2u covers related operational strategies that many businesses find valuable.

See also: How Auto Transport Companies Uses a Route Planner for a broader view of how these themes connect across logistics functions.

Preparing for the Future

As we look at the trajectory of delivery operations and management in 2026 and beyond, the direction is clear. Technology-enabled operations are not a luxury. They are a baseline requirement for businesses that want to compete effectively. The good news is that getting started has never been more accessible, and the returns have never been more compelling.

The next step is yours. Evaluate your current delivery operations and management processes against the benchmarks and strategies outlined here. Identify the gaps with the highest cost, then take action. The technology exists, the data supports the investment, and your customers are waiting for the experience they deserve.

The operational landscape will continue to change, but the organizations that build strong foundations in delivery operations and management today are the ones best positioned to adapt. By combining clear processes, the right technology, and a commitment to data-driven improvement, you can turn 75 of merchants prioritize better returns from a challenge into a genuine competitive advantage.

Ready to see how these strategies can work for your business? Start your free trial or book a demo to see Locate2u in action.